Elsewhere Tottenham host Bournemouth at 4pm (which you can follow live on this link) but most eyes will now be on the clash with the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium - be sure to join me here for all the action.

On this page I'll leave you with the league table which will be lead to a few raised glasses in Norwich.

90+3min: There will be stoppage time in stoppage time here as Mitrovic needs treatment on the pitch after taking a knock to the head while attacking a cross.

He wants to continue but the Newcastle medics insist he cannot, and with the Toon having used all their subs they will finish with 10 men.

15:17

90+1min: We are into four added minutes and it's not hard to see which team wants the winner more as Mannone is booked for time wasting.

15:16

88min: To be DeAndre Yedlin right now. It was his foul throw and poor defending inside the box after which allowed Newcastle to garb an equaliser, which could be pivotal in the battle against relegation.

15:14

Sunderland substitution

85min: It's too much for one Newcastle fan who runs on to the pitch to celebrate with the striker, who is booked for taking his shirt off - of course he is booked.

Sunderland make a final change as Lee Cattermole replaces Kirchhoff.

Aleksandar Mitrovic of Newcastle United (centre) scores their equaliser late in the second half

Mitrovic celebrates after scoring the first goal for Newcastle where he was booked for taking off his shirt

15:09

GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-1 Sunderland

83min: Scenes at St James' Park! Aleksandar Mitrovic scores a HUGE derby goal as he jumps highest at the back post to beat Yedlin to the ball and nod home Georginio Wijnaldum's cross.

82min: That's an in-house fine in the making as DeAndre Yedlin takes a foul throw to needlessly give Newcastle possession.

15:07

79min: They are taking a few chances the Sunderland defence. Shelvey's chipped ball into the box has Mitrovic chasing, but the duo of Kone and O'Shea both raise their hands to prevent the striker from getting through.

Sam Allardyce, manager of Sunderland reacts on the touchline as his side attempted to maintain the lead

15:03

Newcastle United substitution

76min: And now big cheers from the home fans as after four months out injured, striker Papiss Cisse is on to replace Townsend - who has faded a little in this half.

15:01

Sunderland substitution

75min: And that's quickly followed by SUnderland's second switch as Dame N'Doye comes on for Khazri.

Perez breaks inside the box but his shot is blocked behind for a corner by Lamine Kone.

14:59

Sunderland substitution

72min: Now Sunderland look like they are forced into a change as Younes Kaboul has a calf strain and is replaced by John O'Shea.

Meanwhile, Perez fires off target from distance.

Jack Colback of Newcastle United (centre) comes off and is patted on the back by manager Rafa Benitez

14:58

Newcastle United substitution

71min: A second change for Newcastle and it's the other full-back departing as Janmaat makes way for Vurnon Anita.

14:56

68min: From restless to outright frustration as a corner floated into the box is easily taken by Mannone. A few Newcastle supporters look away in disgust and punch the air in despair. A seventh straight derby defeat is in store for those poor folk if their side don't take it up another level.

14:53

65min: The Newcastle fans are getting a little restless. Their side look no closer to grabbing an equaliser as Perez turns inside the box fore firing weakly straight at Mannone.

14:49

Newcastle United substitution

62min: Benitez does make a change as Jack Colback departs, with Siem de Jong replacing him.

It appears Moussa Sissoko will now shift to left-back with Perez moving out wide.

Aleksandar Mitrovic of Newcastle United heads past Vito Mannone of Sunderland as the Toon seeked an equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby

14:47

60min: So when will Rafa make a change? On the hour it's Sunderland starting to find more success in attack as Borini rifles just wide of the target from 25 yards.

14:45

58min: Top save! Newcastle have created the chances this half, but it's Sunderland who should have doubled the lead, Elliot reacting superbly to palm over Patrick van Aanholt's powerfully struck snap shot on the angle.

14:42

55min: Ah, must do better. Townsend attacks the right flank before lifting a high cross to the back post, and it gives Sissoko time to assess his options before it drops out the sky.

He chooses volley and it's the wrong one as he scuffs his effort at goal - probably should have headed that instead.

Newcastle United's Jonjo Shelvey (left) was booked for his late tackle on Sunderland's Jan Kirchhoff

14:40

53min: Good chance for Newcastle. Sissoko cuts on to his right foot from the left but while his cross is accurate in finding Mitrovic, the striker can't generate enough power in his header to really trouble Mannone.

14:38

52min: No goals, just more yellow cards for Newcastle as Jonjo Shelvey is a day late and a dollar short with his sliding tackle on Jan Kirchhoff.

14:37

From Sportsmail's Craig Hope at St James' Park

Mitrovic wins his customary cheer for a nice chest layoff on halfway. Can't remember the last time a striker scored from there, though.

Jermain Defoe of Sunderland (left) scores their first goal on the cusp of half-time

Defoe celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal in the Tyne-Wear derby

14:16

45min: There will be one added minute in this first half.

14:13

GOAL! Newcastle United 0-1 SUNDERLAND

44min: It's that familiar sinking feeling for Newcastle fans. Sunderland once again lead in the derby as following a short corner to the edge of the box, Borini's powerful drive is parried away by Elliot.

But the Newcastle defence fail to clear and on the volley inside the box, Jermain Defoe rifles through a crowd of players to break the deadlock.

43min: Jack Rodwell tries his luck from distance but the midfielder's effort is well off target. Jack Colback, already on a booking, is treading a fine line as manages to escape punishment for having a huge grab of Borni's shirt while trying to win the ball off him.

14:12

40min: After that fast opening 20 minutes, this game has almost come to a halt. Sunderland are still dictating play but there is very little to concern Newcastle fans - outside of the notion they are being outplayed at home by their rivals.

14:08

37min: Khazri with the strike, and while his effort is over the wall it lacks the power and the accuracy to really trouble Elliot as the ball bounces just wide of the post.

14:06

36min: Now Sunderland have a free-kick a bit closer to goal, this one 30 yards out as Borini is brought down.

Janmaat is now booked having pulled back on Kirchhoff's shirt.

14:03

33min: Needless challenge from Janmaat who trips a Sunderland attacker from behind near the halfway line, but referee Martin Atkinson lets him off with a warning

14:01

31min: Instead of going over the wall, Jonjo Shelvey tries to blast past it as his rifled drive across goal creeps just wide - although I'd wager Mannone just about had it covered.

Jack Rodwell of Sunderland rises above Aleksandar Mitrovic (45) and Chancel Mbemba of Newcastle United (18) to head a cross at the Toon goal

14:00

29min: A free-kick right on the edge of the box for Newcastle as Ayoze Perez is tripped by Younes Kaboul.

If anything I'd say its too close to be able to get enough dip and power to beat Mannone, but we'll see...

13:58

27min: Newcastle continue to labour in attack. Townsend aside they are just creating very little, as Daryl Janmaat's cross is collected by Mannone.

13:53

From Sportsmail's Craig Hope at St James' Park

'Twenty minutes in and, if this were a boxing match, you'd say Sunderland are well ahead on points. Newcastle are nervy and, not for the first time this season, lacking conviction and inspiration in the final third.'

Rafa Benitez, manager of Newcastle United, signs autographs for fans ahead of his first game in charge at St James' Park

13:52

21min: What a derby this is turning into. Newcastle's best player so far, Townsend, forces Vito Mannone into a nervous parry following a powerfully struck drive, while at the other end, Khazri's cross/shot along the face of the goal sees Defoe just miss out on connecting while sliding at the back post.

13:51

20min: Goal! shout the Sunderland fans, only to be tricked by an optical illusion as Jermain Defoe rifles his near post strike into the side netting - much to the delight of the home fans who then sarcastically cheer the reaction. Still, another big chance passes for Sunderland.

13:49

18min: First booking of the game and it comes for Jack Colback as he wipes out Borini with a late sliding tackle.

13:48

16min: Sunderland fans don't take long to remind Newcastle supporters of this derby's recent form as 'six-in-a-row' is chanted by the away fans.

9min: That's how you deliver a set-piece, Khazri! The forward floats in a free-kick from the right but Jack Rodwell's header lacks power and is too central as Rob Elliot tips over.

13:39

8min: Close! Andros Townsend darts down the right before feeding Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose first time volley after attacking the penalty box sees him blast over under pressure.

13:38

7min: Rubbish. Is there a more frustrating sight in football (other than diving?) Sunderland win a corner but Wahbi Khazri's delivery fail to get past the Newcastle defender at the near post. What a waste.

13:36

6min: That's got the home fans going. Moussa Sissoko's marauding run down the left sees him muscle Jan Kirchhoff off the ball, but after getting into a crossing position, the Sunderland defence eventually manager to snuff out the attack and clear their lines.

13:34

3min: First chance for Sunderland. A backpost cross is headed across goal for Fabio Borini to Jermain Defoe, who after controlling the ball in the air, turns and volleys over the bar. By no means an easy chance but he sliced that horribly over.

'After six derby defeats in a row a lot has been written about Newcastle's players - and it has been as strong as "spineless" and "heartless" on occasions. You'd think now would be a good time to prove a few people wrong.'

13:28

Out come the players at St James' Park...

The tension is understandably very high as the teams make their way out - the Blacks Cats sadly going against tradition by wearing their green change strip.

Here is how the table looks going into the game. Only Sunderland can end the day outside of the relegation zone with a win - and even that would be on goal difference.

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Newcastle United host Sunderland at St James' Park to help get Sunday's action underway.

It is one of the biggest Tyne-Wear derbies in years as Rafa Benitez takes charge of his first game at St James' Park where both sides start the day inside the bottom three and desperate for a win to edge them closer to top flight safety - and in turn pile misery on their bitter rivals.

Sunderland go into the derby with the psychological edge having won the last six derbies between the sides.